"Pacifics" picked as team name for San Rafael baseball

November 3, 2011 12:44:41 PM PDT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. --

Marin County's professional baseball team will be known as the San Rafael Pacifics.Michael Shapiro, the team's president and general manager, on Wednesday announced the winning name, which was one of five finalists in a public contest to name the team. Shapiro was not immediately available for comment this morning. The other finalists were Cruisers, Spacemen, Golden Gaters and Redwoods. Brian Clark, CEO of Centerfield Partners, LLC, said the name Pacifics "reflects all the good things about San Rafael and Marin County." "We wanted the name to be a fun reflection of minor league baseball," Clark said. "We contemplated quirky names like 'Spacemen,' but we didn't want it to be too quirky. This one fits the bill," Clark said. The San Rafael Pacifics Baseball Club will play their independent North American League home games next year between May and September at Albert Field in San Rafael. The team's blue-and-white circular logo features a cresting wave and a baseball. The team is expected to name a general manager this month, Clark said. Its colors will be blue and gold, and Albert Park will be "dressed" to reflect a beach culture, according to the Baseball Digest website. San Rafael's City Council held several public meetings since the spring before approving a one-year agreement with Centerfield Partners LLC, the East Bay company that made the pitch to bring a professional minor league team to the city.